INSANE: 2 | Vintage Vibes

Program to plant 20 million trees prioritised cost-saving over gains for nature, research finds

Australia is a world leader in land clearing and species extinctions. Tree-planting programs are among the restoration measures needed to bring threatened species back from the brink. But do these programs always work?

The Conversation · May 14, 2023

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Simon Birmingham on the Voice, Aston, the Liberals, Uranium

The Liberals have formally decided to oppose the Voice. Peter Dutton has declared he will campaign against it, a high risk strategy when polls are showing a majority of Australians currently support a “yes” vote.

The Conversation · Apr 6, 2023

Australia's cultural institutions are especially vulnerable to efficiency dividends: looking back at 35 years of cuts

In January the Albanese government launched a new arts policy, Revive. Among its measures was a commitment to exempt Australia’s seven national performing arts training organisations from the efficiency dividend.

The Conversation · Mar 29, 2023

Afternoon Update: mining industry’s windfall tax threat; Victoria’s messy politics; and a Christmas gift guide

It’s déjà vu with a mining lobby warning that harks back to the ad campaign against the Rudd government

The Guardian - AU · Nov 17, 2022

Mining industry threatens to unleash ad campaign against Labor unless it rules out windfall profits tax

Minerals Council opens new front between resources sector and Albanese government who are already at war over IR changes

The Guardian - AU · Nov 17, 2022

A mandate for multi-employer bargaining? Without it, wages for the low paid won't rise

“The fact is that the government that I lead was elected with a mandate to increase people’s wages,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the House of Representatives last week, as parliament debated the government’s bill to increase access to multi-employer collective bargaining.

The Conversation · Nov 13, 2022

Ross Garnaut thinks Australia can become a low-carbon superpower; Clive Hamilton is not convinced

Ross Garnaut is a big beast in the Australian climate policy world, and a Labor favourite since his days as economic adviser to Bob Hawke. His 2008 Climate Change Review shifted the dial on policy, encouraging the Rudd and Gillard governments to pursue carbon pricing laws. He fell out of…

The Conversation · Nov 9, 2022

As UK politics descends into chaos, might Australia finally have reached a point of stability?

Three prime ministers – Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and, now, Rishi Sunak – in less than two months. The leadership tumult in the cradle of parliamentary democracy, Westminster, is a source of macabre fascination.

The Conversation · Oct 27, 2022

Chalmers offensive: crunch time as treasurer faces first federal budget

A volatile global economy looms as Jim Chalmers assembles the Albanese government’s inaugural budget, where he will be judged on delivering on election promises while exercising restraint

The Guardian - AU · Oct 21, 2022

Former PM Gillard to lead SA schools probe

Julia Gillard credits South Australia government schools with her history-making ascent to prime minister and will lead a royal commission to improve them.

AAP · Oct 16, 2022